The Dream of the Rood

[Alan Smithee]

A thread about the crucifixion of Jesus on the Religious Texts board led me to think about this poem that I read whilst studying Medieval literature in University. I remember finding the Anglo-Saxon's depiction of Jesus fascinating, so I thought I'd share it here and hopefully start a discussion. It's short for a long poem so it shouldn't take too much time to read.

Here's my post from the other thread, which briefly explains what the poem is about:


The poet writes of a dream he had in which he is spoken to by the cross (rood) upon which Christ was crucified. What's fascinating in this poem is that Christ is not a passive victim of Roman brutality, he is a proud, strong Anglo-Saxon leader who defiantly goes to his death.

The poem seems like an attempt to conflate pagan concepts with Christian theology. Instead of a cross, the rood is an animated tree. Initially, it speaks of its reluctance to be a participant in the execution of Christ. We then find out that, far from being an instrument of oppression, the cross is an essential ally in the battle for mankind's salvation.

This site (http://www.dreamofrood.co.uk/frame_start.htm) has a translated version of the poem alongside the original.

[cacian]

A thread about the crucifixion of Jesus on the Religious Texts board led me to think about this poem that I read whilst studying Medieval literature in University. I remember finding the Anglo-Saxon's depiction of Jesus fascinating, so I thought I'd share it here and hopefully start a discussion. It's short for a long poem so it shouldn't take too much time to read.

Here's my post from the other thread, which briefly explains what the poem is about:



This site (http://www.dreamofrood.co.uk/frame_start.htm) has a translated version of the poem alongside the original.

That is 156 lines it is nearly catching with Dantes.
Can I ask by asking which is/are your favourite lines or the ones that caught your eyes?

Also it is an interesting word the rood it sounds very much like 'rude'but of course this is beside the point.
I also feel like it is a 'waiting for godot' situation. May be it is the 'tree' that did it.

[Lokasenna]

It's a wonderful poem - one of the finest in the Old English canon. The translation on the website you flag up is a good one, too.

For me, the true beauty of this poem is the extent to which we can see the crossover between a heroic warrior culture and a germinating Christian culture. It really is a marvellous fusion of ideas.

[hallaig]

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ruthwell/ruthwellcross/images/cross-450.jpg

This might interest you, its an 8th Century Anglo-Saxon cross situated near to where I live which contains about 30 lines of the dream of the Rood. The poetry on the cross pre-dates any surviving manuscript of 'English' poetry and therefore is the earliest text of poetry in English that currently exists.

[Lokasenna]

Ah yes, the Ruthwell Cross. We've got a plaster-cast of it here in Durham as part of the Cathedral's collection of Anglo-Saxon stonework - I've spent many happy hours with it!

[cafolini]

I think I know what it is with you guys. I love you so much. I think you are afraid of being narrow minded. That's what we used to call it.
"Get off the horses and drink the milk."
We have plenty of room for you at Gettysburgh. We have all the time you seem to need and a lot more.

[hallaig]

Eh? Whit?

[cafolini]

Then there is that other funny aspect. If you make mistakes on purpose, there is no way they are going to come back to slap you unaware.

[hallaig]

Not while the train is standing at the station.

[cafolini]

Not while the train is standing at the station.

When the station is standing at the train, we'll provide you mental health help.

[hallaig]

Are you a mentalist?

[cafolini]

Are you a mentalist?

Not at any cost.
I am a scientist.

[hallaig]

Excellent. I'm a Historian. Are you imagining that because I talk about the Ruthwell Cross and an ancient anglo-saxon poem that I'm a Christian? You haven't used rigorous anaysis on that proposition.

[Lokasenna]

If I may just interject: this is utterly bizarre. What has any of this to do with The Dream of the Rood?

[cafolini]

If I may just interject: this is utterly bizarre. What has any of this to do with The Dream of the Rood?

An interpretation, imagining the mental scene behind the thread. Not utterly but bizarre indeed.